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Library Journal Review
A wealth of information on modern cultures and ethnic groups resides in this one-volume work, primarily a product of Israeli scholars (and published first in Israel in 1993). Articles tend to focus more on the political and geographical histories than on the cultural and linguistic differences that distinguish peoples. Peoples are defined as broadly as nationalities; for example, there is an entry for Americans as well as for the many ethnic groups that comprise the U.S. population. Articles contain both the common and indigenous names of groups and provide cross references to related entries. Maps highlight the locations of lesser-known peoples. This encyclopedia contains much more detail than another one-volume work, Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peoples and Cultures (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1992), which mixes shorter and fewer descriptions of cultural groups with concepts, biographies, and definitions. Compared with the eight-volume Encyclopedia of World Cultures ( LJ 3/15/91), however, it falls short of providing the rich level of description that makes a definitive reference work. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended for public and academic libraries as a current guide to the peoples of the world.-- Joyce L. Ogburn, Yale Univ. Lib., New Haven, Ct. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
CHOICE Review
Gonen (Hebrew Univ.) has compiled more than 2,000 entries on contemporary ethnic groups, cultures, and nations for "the general reader of current world affairs." Articles, which vary in length from a sentence to three pages, are arranged alphabetically by common name of the group or nation, followed in many cases by a self-designation; geographical location; population figures; language; religion; and brief history. The strongest articles are those on nations and on groups involved in recent political conflict that have been covered heavily by the media (e.g., Kurds, Russians, Serbs). There are 250 black-and-white maps, 88 pages of black-and-white photographs, and 48 pages of color photographs. The photos are often generic, although those in color illustrate interesting articles on prominent cultural practices of various societies (e.g., Tswana cousin marriage). There is an index of common and variant names of all peoples mentioned. A select bibliography of English-language sources is arranged by continent or world region. For more in-depth, ethnological coverage of cultures, the Encyclopedia of World Cultures (10 volumes when completed), ed. by David Levinson (CH, Oct'91; Apr'92; Dec'92), is preferable. This Encyclopedia would be most useful for undergraduate and public library collections. C. E. Carter; University of New Mexico
Booklist Review
Edited by a professor at Hebrew University, with contributors from Israel and the Americas, this book contains entries for more than 2,000 nationalities and ethnic groups. For example, in addition to the entry Nigerians are entries for the country's major ethnic groups, such as Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba. There is the entry Israelis and a separate one, Jews. Groups are listed under the name by which they are best known, sometimes followed by the name they call themselves, e.g., Croats (Hrvati). A typical entry is approximately 150 words, but some (Ganda, Irish, Saudi Arabs) are a page in length. The readable entries touch on race, religion, language, and other factors that distinguish the group from other peoples. Population figures are given for most groups. Some very small peoples are covered, for example, the Seri of Mexico, numbering 300-400. The volume includes many large black-and-white photographs of representative people and maps showing the distribution of ethnic groups. Three inserts of color photographs accompany brief essays on various cultural traditions (e.g., "Llama and Alpaca Breeders of the Andean Highlands"). These will be found only by browsing, however, since there is no table of contents and they aren't indexed. The lengthy bibliography is arranged by regions of the world. The index refers from variant forms of names to the form used in the alphabetical sequence but does not give page numbers. G. K. Hall's Encyclopedia of World Cultures is to be in 10 volumes; six have been published to date. When complete, it will cover 1,500 cultures in more detail than in the work under review. For example, in volume 1, North America [RBB Jl 91], there is a four-page article on the Amish, who are mentioned only in the article Americans in The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World. With increasing emphasis on ethnicity in today's world, The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World will be useful for the layperson who wants to know more about the Kurds or Bosnian Muslims. Recommended for high school and public libraries and for those academic libraries that need a less expensive alternative to the multivolume Encyclopedia of World Cultures. (Reviewed Mar. 15, 1994)0805022562Sandy Whiteley
